Carrier for invalids combining horizontal and chair supports



June 22, 1954 w. A. SCHWARTZ 2,631,455

CARRIER FOR INVALIDS COMBINING HORIZONTAL AND CHAIR SUPPORTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1952 .0 m T4 w m June 22, 1954 w. A. SCHWARTZ CARRIER FOR INVALIDS COMBINING HORIZONTAL AND CHAIR SUPPORTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1952 Fr 4L Patented June 22, 1954 CARRIER F OR INVALIDS COMBINING HORI- ZONTAL AND CHAIR SUPPORTS William A. Schwartz, New York, N. Y. Application April 5, 1952, Serial No. 280,741

2 Claims.

'Th-e'object of the present invention is to provide an effective and sturdy device for receiving a bed patient in substantially horizontal position, and

incorporating means for elevating the patient into an upright sitting position, the carrier element having a double function, beingcapable of adjustment vertically and being movable on a 'Wheeled adjustable frame to a position alongside or over a bed and therefrom to any desired position exterior of the bed. The patient-supporting element may be moved downwardly to any desired position, and to such position that the pa- .tient is on a wheel chair provided by the assembly. I

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 ,isa perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention partly broken away as to a covering material for the chair element.

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation with the chair element dropped and horizontal to provide a stretcher-like support.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with the chair element in position for use as such.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary'front elevation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the rear portion of the wheeled supporting frame.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line EE of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical'section on the line 'l-JofFig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the mannor of filling an opening in the seat of the chair by means of a movable pad and pad frame.

Fig. 9 a plan view of a suitable sheet area of the chair cover.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line I0I 0, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a Wheeled frame consisting of a bottom rear frame member I having wheels 2 and a bottom front frame member 3, also provided with wheels 4. The two frame members are connected by threaded shafts ii in such manner that an internally threaded worm wheel 6 (Fig. 6) at each side of frame member may be operated by worm gears l on a shaft ii through the rotation of a crank 9. Thus a worm Wheel and worm gear is provided for each of the two threaded shafts 5. Rotation of the crank 53 will move the frame members I and 3 apart or bring them together depending upon the direction of rotation, i. e., whether clockwise or counterclockwise.

It will be understood that threaded shafts 5 are held against endwise movement relatively to 2 frame member 3, as shown in Fig. 10, and are free to move inwardly of the parallel arms of framemember I.

Rising from frame member 3 are two rigidly held spiral toothed or rack shafts It, each of which carries the depending arm IIX of a top frame II. Carried in the bracket housings I2 on frame I I are Worms or gears (not shown) on shaft HEX (Fig. l) which gears engage the teeth or rack surfaces of shaft l0 and thereby. are adapted to move frame 5! in an upward or downward movement when handle 3 IX is rotated.

Carried by frame II are two cantilever arms I3 which at their forward areas are preferably inclined as shown in Fig. 1, for purposes hereinafter to be described. Supported by the cantilever arms are two bottom pivot rods It, I 4X. Pivot rod i lX enters apertures formed in two elongated parallel rear arms I5 which are connected, as by the cross-rods I6, I8, to form a rigid support in either down or upright position. Carried by pivot rod l4 are two front arms H which are mutually connected to form a strong supporting member in either upright or horizontal position. Arms l5 and I? are pivotally connected by horizontal seat arms I8 on a top pivot rod I 9 carried by thearms I5 and on a pivot rod I9X carried by the arms ii. The entire assembly just described provides a chair which when in upright position, may be covered with strong flexible covering material as indicated at Zii. This chair is held in upright position, and is moved into horizontal patient-supporting position, by the following instrumentalities Secured in fixed position to the rear of arms I5 is a cross-bar 2! having struts 22 which are pivoted in turn to a swivel housing 23 on shaft 24 which leads to a second swivel housing 25 (Fig. 2). Pivoted to the latter are struts 2 6 which lead upwardly for connection with a cross-bar 32 carried at the rear of the pivotally mounted arms IT. The front end of swivel housing 25 receives the head (not shown) of a threaded shaft 2'! mounted in a threaded sleeve 28 which is pivoted at each side, as indicated at 29 (Fig. 4) to carrier blocks 39 fixed on the parallel arms I IX of frame II. Threaded shaft 2'! carries a crank 3|.

When crank 3| is rotated. counter-clockwise, at the position of the elements shown in Fig. 1, shaft 25 will be moved forwardly and because of its pivoted connections with arms I5 and I! will push the arms down to horizontal position, that position being shown in Fig. 2, collapsing the chair into a fiat or pallet carrying member. Reverse movement of the shaft 2'! will raise the chair 3 element to the position of Fig. 1, carrying with it the patient.

That portion of the chair cover 20 at the seat may be apertured similar to a toilet seat and for that purpose, as indicated at 32X, Fig. l, and Fig. 8. In the latter figure, the equivalent of pivot rod 19X, Fig. 1, is shown as a rigid bar IBXX, the frame for which is pivoted, having an aperture at 32X which can be filled by the rounded top cushion of a filler member 33 which can be latched in position by pivoted latch bars 34, the latter being movable out of latching position to enable quick downward removal of the seat filler member 33. At this pointa bed pan can be positioned for use.

It will be seen that my device provides a means of elevating a bed patient into an upright, sitting position, as if he were in a chair, particularly in the case of chronic patients, many of whom are bed-fast, and most of whom are helpless.

When these patients have to move their bowels, they must be rolled on a side, and the pan slipped under them. Their physiologic functions are performed in a very unphysiologic position. For cardiac patients, the strain is dangerous. From other standpoints it is uncomfortable and unsatisfactory.

For elderly people, who constitute the bulk of chronic patients, the constant supine position is dangerous. To get them in and out of bed, for their sake, involves heavy lifting by two or three aides.

In use, the device is wheeled up to the foot of the bed, and is rolled forward till the frame arms HX lie against the footboard of the bed; the

base will then be almost entirely underneath the bed. The patient is then rolled on his side and onto the pallet provided by the members in the position of Fig. 2.

The device can (after the patient has been elevated), be moved away from the bed, the chair can be raised into position and then moved downwardly to normal wheel chair position, the base can be shortened, by gears, and the patient is then on a Wheel-chair. He can then be moved about.

In replacing the patient on the bed, the procedure is simply reversed.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements shown inthe embodiment described without departure from the spirit of the invention. Thus, for clarity of illustration I have shown the various frame members in the form of bars, whereas in practice they preferably will be tubular to lessen weight and. afiord more attractive appearance.

Having described my invention, what I claim' and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

i. A carrier for invalids and in combination with a carrier frame, a chair frame adapted to be collapsed from normal chair relationship to flat pallet-frame form and means for operating the same, said chair frame consisting of a first and front normally vertical pair of arms pivoted to said carrier frame at the top portion thereof and rising upwardly therefrom, a second and rear normally vertical pair of arms of greater length than the first pair and spaced therefrom, said 1ast-named arms rising upwardly from and being pivoted to said carrier frame, a normally horizontal pair of spaced arms pivotally connecting the second set of arms at a median area thereof and the first set of arms at the tops thereof, and an endwise movable holding and actuating rod connected to one set of said vertical chair frame arms and means for imparting endwise movement to said rod.

2. A carrier for invalids, constructed in accordance with claim 1, in which the carrier frame consists of a base frame section having supports for contacting with the floor, an intermediate section consisting of vertical parallel shaft-like members and an upper section movable vertically on said shaft-like members and rigidly supported thereby, said upper section being provided with spaced cantilever carrying arms to which the chair frame is pivoted, said cantilever arms overhanging the base frame section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

